THE HON R. McKENZLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7730, 25 February 1909, Page 3

THE HON R. McKENZLE.

! AUCKLAND, Fei.r.:ary 24. The Hon. R. 3:c. rio!i/;ii- announced m his speech at Waipu thai, the survey of tlie western route' for the North Auckland railway wc-ul 1 bo commenced at the end of the week. The question whether the route went through the BickerstafF estate wo 3 not. material, but whether (lie line .should go east or west cf Tangiliim range was. Mr Mandor declared, m view of the engineer's opinions m favour of the eastern route, that a further survey was a waste of public money. He asserted that the Minister's action was weak. The Minister made a spirited reply, assorting that the western survey was necessary m the interest of the country, though it did not pledge him to cither route. Mr Mander subsequently expressed regret for his remark m regard to the Minister having shown weakness. ]

:' MOKE ABOUT THE CURRENTS. I Captain Drewette gave evidence as to having been driven out of his course m Conk Strait. Mo considered Captain -N'aylor'cs course an unusually safe one. The following telegram from Captain Echvm, of the Rosamond, was read: " Coming north passing the entrance to Cook Strait the day after the Penguin disaster, the Kosamond set to the westward about ten miles, owing to the exceptionally strong set. Think this information may be useful, m view of the Penguin enquiry." ADDRESSES OF COUNSEL. Mr Hordman addressed the Court on behalf of Captain Naylor. He said that not one witness had suggested that the course pursued by Captain jNaylor was wrong. He complained that the Admiralty charts were erroneous and misleading, and the Nautical Almanac was at fault. On the night of the-disaster, the evidence showd that there had been an unprecedented and phenomenal tide. The conditions on both sides of the Strait showed thai an extraordinary cur-rent had llowed that night. Captain Xaylor should Incompletely exonerated. !)r MoArthur announced that the Court was satisfied ihat the IVru'iiin was well found and properly ecjuippo.l. | Mr Myers, i'or the Marine Department, m the course of his reply, i urged that coastal vessels should carry patent sounding apparatus. If it was impossible to take soundings, and the captain did not know where he was, he should have put out to sea. Dv McArthur said that the inquest would hn commenced to-morrow, and it be absolutely unfair to give any decision until a verdict had 'been arrived at by the jurors. The Court would probably arrive at its decision by to-morrow, but it would not be announced until the inquest was concluded, if the jury finished to-mor-mor thp Court's decision would be ready by Friday afternoon.